Best of 2014

Out & About Nashville contributors, as well as a number of community leaders, offer their Top 10 best things (and one list of worst things) about 2014. Read here the opinions of the writers and community members who make O&AN, and all of gay Nashville, tick.

3. (tie) Excellence in Business Awards – an inspirational gathering of the LGBT and allied business community at a professional lunch

2. LGBT business owners invited to Cracker Barrel's 2nd annual Meet the Buyer for their supplier diversity initiative for their retail stores.

1. TASTE – Over 300 guests enjoyed delicious food, a variety of musical entertainment, creative cocktails, and the museum at the Musicians Hall of Fame at the LGBT Chamber's most successful fundraising event.

TOP 10 ATHLETES TO COME OUT IN 2014

One hundred nine people came out publicly in sports in 2014. Here are my Top 10 who I think could have the most impact.

Marisa Richmond, Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition

9. Smithsonian Institution accepts several artifacts from transgender history. They include Renee Richards' Tennis Racquet, a Transgender Flag, and a full set of Democratic National Convention Transgender Delegate buttons.

4. The transgender rights movement is the cover story in Time Magazine

3. The United States Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) released new guidance describing the responsibilities of colleges, universities and public schools to address sexual violence and other forms of sex discrimination under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.

Gary Bradshaw, Rise&Grindr

TOP 10 DATING APPS FOR GAY MEN

10. Mister: I understand this is a specific kind of app for men seeking a very specific type of guy, but being too focused on guys looking to be submissive or vice versa in a small gay market like Nashville leaves very little to choose from. Trust me, you'll waste your time with this one.

9. Distinc.tt: It’s states that it’s the only gay dating app on iTunes approved for those 12 and up. Which clearly differentiates it from the other best gay dating apps and focuses more on socializing. Considering most of the gay men's one-track minds in this city, I'd caution men to proceed with this one.

8. Jack'd: Advertised as "the fastest growing gay app in the world", this one tends to have crash problems and, while it's filter options allow you to find "Mr. Right," it lacks in localized options. Call me crazy, but I'm not interested in carrying on broken conversation or dating you if your primary residence is Thailand.

7. Manhunt: This app lets you to browse through Manhunt’s over 4 million gay, bi or curious men and allows you to easily transition from their website to app and back, but for something more localized there are better options below.

6. Growlr: There's something for everyone in the online dating world. And if your thing is bears, cubs or otters (not the actual animals), than this app is for you. It's not exactly my thing, but I promise no bears were harmed in the compiling of this list.

5. Hornet: The sophisticated filter features of this app are a gay man's dream, unfortunately Nashville men have yet to get acquainted with this download and the options for your late-night hook up or happy hour date are scarce.

4. Tinder: Tinder is more of a fun experiment than a legitimate dating option. Profiles are rarely looked at and users are judged – and matched – purely on appearance. While it's not necessarily the best option to find a date, it can be quite exhilarating when you're matched with a local hottie.

3. Grindr: Although it lacks in many features in both the free and premium versions, Grindr is still the most used among the gay community, making it the easiest place to find quantity, although not necessarily quality.

2. Scruff: Although the app tends to skew more sexual, Scruff allows users to post public and private photos and a more detailed profile. Something where the more widely used, Grindr, falls short.

1. OkCupid: Finally an app for everyone where gays are welcomed with open arms (can you say equality?). OkCupid offers users to upload multiple photos and lengthy profiles, so browsers have a better chance to get beyond the appearance and into a real, dare I say, conversation that could lead to drinks rather than the bedroom.

Angela Gimlin

TOP 10 TV SHOWS THAT KEPT ME WATCHING IN 2014

10. Nashville (ABC) – As a Nashville resident, I must keep tuned in simply to hope Luke or Jeff eventually get hit by the first Amp bus to hit the streets. Bonus if Layla or Rayna are on the bus.

9. The Big Bang Theory (CBS) – Now, before you all start rolling your eyes, I will admit they have been reaching for plotlines this season. But Miayim Bialik as “Amy Farrah Fowler” is one of the funniest characters on TV and watching her is worth the writers scrambling to keep the show afloat.

8. Reign (WB)- Reign is truly a guilty pleasure simply because it is based VERY LOOSELY on the life of Mary, Queen of Scots. In the WB’s world, a show about this Queen Mary has obviously inaccurate costumes, characters and storylines, but staring at Torrance Coombs (as Bash) and Toby Regbo (as King Francis) for an hour is so worth it all.

7. Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey (FOX) – Just watching this show makes me feel smart. It is exceedingly interesting and is like a more enjoyable, thought-provoking and innovative high school science lesson.

6. The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Comedy Central) – Jon Stewart is one of the most brilliant minds on television and his show continues to prove that they can be insanely funny while factually reporting the news.

5. Almost Royal (BBC America)- This show debuted in 2014 and is one of the funniest new programs on television. Two fish out of water wealthy Brits are making their way across the United States running into more social and economic awkwardness than ever thought possible. Even better- they shot an episode in Nashville and made a music video. Search for it online. You can thank me later.

4. Orphan Black (BBC America)- I sometimes feel this show is still one of the best kept secrets on television, despite the fact that lead actress Tatiana Maslany keeps racking up Golden Globe and Emmy nominations every year. It certainly dabbles in the science fiction, but that is secondary compared to the fast-paced plot and quick-changing storyline.

3. Downton Abbey (PBS) – I will admit I had my doubts about this show after the loss of Matthew, but they have managed to keep it interesting and keeping us unapologetic Anglophiles satisfied. And you can’t ever go wrong with giving proper English smart-ass lines to Dame Maggie Smith.

2. Game of Thrones (HBO) – Who isn’t watching this show is the real question. And it is true what they say about getting attached to a character. Just when you begin to love them, they will be killed off in a more brutal manner than your previous favorite.

1. Homeland (Showtime) – This show, despite the loss of that yummy Damien Lewis, continues to keep me on the edge of my seat. No wonder its President Obama’s favorite show and Prince William has admitted he and the Duchess of Cambridge love to keep up with it, as well.

TOP 10 THINGS THAT SHOULD HAPPEN TO NASHVILLE’S “SCARLETT” TO MAKE HER CHARACTER MORE INTERESTING

10. After three years of solid working out and weight gain, Scarlett tries out for the Predators and becomes one of the first women to play professional hockey on the NHL level. She obviously will play goalie.

9. Scarlett decides to gain back the success she once had and teams up with Zoey to become the biggest duo since The Judds, calling themselves “Scarey.”

8. She becomes a popular moustache and beard stylist at a high end salon in the Gulch.

7. She begins a search, travelling the world to find her childhood Brady Bunch lunchbox.

6. She rushes to Luke’s side to comfort him after his split with Rayna. She immediately dies her hair red, starts dressing like Reba McEntire and changes her name to Scayna.

5. Trying to shake up her life, Scarlett decides to become a Titans cheerleader and begins dating whichever Titans quarterback isn’t on the injured list.

4. She gets a DNA test and learns she isn’t actually human. She is the product of a sunflower and pot of cookie dough that mated.

3. She gets selective mutism where she isn’t able to talk, but always able to sing.

2. Scarlett wakes up one day to discover she is hungry. She heads to pancake pantry every morning for the next year and finally puts the weight back on that she had in season one and begins to look like a healthy, young lady again.

1. She moves to Australia as a special music ambassador for 10 straight years. While she is there, she adopts an Australian accent, so actress Clare Bowen, who is a native Aussie, can use her real accent instead of using that pitiful southern accent she has failed to perfect.

TOP 5 THINGS I’D LIKE TO HAPPEN IN NASHVILLE IN 2015

5. Mayor Karl Dean begins to prepare his for Tennessee governor run in 2018.

4. The Titans and Commodores both have winning seasons.

3. As the job market and economy continue to rebound, we hope the music business will follow suit and fill up some of the numerous empty buildings on Music Row.

2. The businesses on Church Street continue to grow and thrive and the crime in the area decreases.

1. A New Years miracle occurs and every driver in the greater Nashville area learns to use their turn signal.

Chris Sanders, Tennessee Equality Project

TOP 10 MOMENTS OF 2014 (in no particular order)

1. Passage of the Metro Nashville partner benefits bill.

2. Defeat of the Turn the Gay Away bill in the Legislature and the defeat of the bill designed to punish Vanderbilt for its all-comers non-discrimination policy for clubs and activities.

3. President Obama's executive order on non-discrimination protections for employees of federal contractors.

4. Tennessee elected officials coming out for marriage equality.

5. The defeat of Senator Campfield in his primary race.

6. More gay country performers coming out.

7. Nashville Pride holding the festival at Public Square…a very good move